Disable Smilies in This Post. Show Signature: include your profile signature. Only registered users may have signatures.

*If HTML and/or UBB Code are enabled, this means you can use HTML and/or UBB Code in your message.

If you have previously registered, but forgotten your password, click here.

T O P I C R E V I E W

Voyager1975

Is there any difference between the early or original AB Emblem Space Shuttle Approach and Landing Test (ALT) patch and the current one that AB Emblem makes?

I can't tell by looking at any of the patches on eBay, they all look the same. I would appreciate it if anyone can inform me of any differences between the two so I can get an original AB Emblem ALT patch.

pargoo

I'd very much like to see a hi-res version of the ALT patch artwork. I have never seen one anywhere.

I have seen the vintage AB Emblem patch and I have the current AB Emblem version. There is actually no difference in the layout or look of the patch if you put them side by side. I do not have the vintage but I would say the original is a much thinner and more floppier patch like cloth than the patch that is out now but that is just a guess.

hoorenz

Yes, it is a guess.

My advice: get yourself a cheap box of original 80's and 90's Shuttle patches on eBay and stop worrying about the newer patches.

Voyager1975

Yes, but for some reason every box of vintage 80's and 90's patches does not contain the STS-Approach and Landing Test patch. That's the problem, I can't find it, not even on eBay.

There are some vintage patches that are harder to find than others.

Murph

I was thinking that I need an ALT patch for my collection, and I realize I know very little about it.

Are there any different kinds? AB, Lion Bros, unidentified one worn by the crew, etc? If so, what kind should I buy? None of the patch websites say very much about them. Any input would be appreciated.

The AB Emblem version is the most readily-available. The Lion Brothers version is very scarce and examples fetch serious money when they appear.

Liembo

Regarding the Lion Brother's ALT patch, being already scarce, is the cloth backed or plastic-backed version more rare than the other?

Kevin T. Randall

The plastic coated version is actually a vacuum sealed patch and is much harder to find than the bare cloth backed version.

Liembo

I'm trying to pin down the origin of an ALT patch. At first pass it appears to be a standard A-B Emblem patch, but closer inspection reveals many differences:

Blue thread outlines the orbiter

Y in "Truly" is closer to the "T" in Test

Coarser outline details on orbiter

Larger but still thin "USA"

Taller "r"s in "Enterprise" (higher than the "i")

Thick blue areas on wingtips

It actually has almost as much in common as the LB version that it does the A-B version.

Kevin T. Randall

This full size ALT patch is closer to the two known variants produced by Swissartex Emblem Inc. from 1983 through to 1991, at their factory in Asheville, NC 28814, before their name change and relocation to Taiwan.

There is only a few subtle differences from those two known variants produced by Swissartex and this version. The most noticeable being the wing tips, the engine cowls and the shiny plastic coated backing, (used on all their patches after relocating to Taiwan).

Similar subtle differences also appear on the STS-3, STS-4 and STS-5 patches also produced by Swissartex during this time.

I will send you some images of these variants to show these differences Liem.

Liembo

Thank you!

SparkR_13

Can anyone explain the significance of those patches with "LGA" showing on the wing? Thank you.

mmcmurrey

It's just the "U" is thin on the right side going up to make the "S" in USA making it look like LGA vs USA.

mmcmurrey

I have two ALT patches that were in my fathers things when he was with NASA JSC. I also have a copy of a letter from the crews thanking all that worked on OV-101 program as a token of their appreciation distribution of these patches. Letter is dated Nov 7, 1977. I'm not sure if these patches were flown aboard the test flights but they certainly had enough room!